Flexible cosmetic applicator

ABSTRACT

A container/dispenser/applicator includes a hollow body for holding a cosmetic or pharmaceutical material, a material driver at its proximal end, and a substantially flat surfaced, flexible applicator at its distal end, with a channel inside the applicator in communication with the material, and with an exit port connected at an angle to the channel for the material to exit from the channel onto the substantially flat surface of the applicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a flexible, flow-through cosmetic or pharmaceutical container including a small, spatula-shaped, flexible applicator with an internal channel through which a cosmetic or pharmaceutical product flows to an exit port connected to the internal channel at an angle, e.g., of about 90°.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a container for housing and dispensing a cosmetic or a pharmaceutical material which may be in liquid, gel or powder form. The container includes an applicator that delivers a small amount of cosmetic or pharmaceutical material from a reservoir in the container to, e.g., one's skin. Preferably, each use of the applicator results in the transfer of an amount of pharmaceutical or cosmetic that is suitable for an individual application to a specific location on the skin, e.g., the face, the hands, and the body. This is advantageous in circumstances where a user is attempting to apply fine lines of cosmetic without the blurring effect of having a surplus of cosmetic on the applicator. The applicator may be spatula-shaped, may be elastomeric, and includes an internal channel through which a cosmetic or pharmaceutical material or product flows to an opening, an external exit port, that may be located at or near the distal end of the applicator and at or near the distal end of the channel. The exit port is connected to the channel, and may be at an angle of, e.g., about 90° to the channel, or at another suitable angle.

The applicator may be made of a soft, flexible elastomer such as Santoprene, is fabric free, and is soft enough to use around the face or eyes with minimal pressure. The applicator may also have a sponge type covering, e.g., a mitt, extending over the exit port and the end of the applicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view in cross-section of an embodiment of the cosmetic/pharmaceutical container/dispenser/applicator of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in cross-section of the applicator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view in cross-section of the parts of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 3 show a side elevation view of container/applicator 10. Container/applicator 10 includes hollow, cylindrical body portion 11, fitted with applicator 20 (see FIG. 2) at the distal end 28 of body portion 11 and screw-driven actuator 30 with screw 12 at proximal end 29, and washer 14 at the other end. At distal end 38, body portion 11 is covered by the closed end 31 of friction-fit, removable, hollow, cylindrical-shaped cap 26.

See FIG. 2. Applicator 20 is friction-fitted into a cylindrical section 32 at the distal end of body portion 11. Section 32 is of smaller diameter than body portion 11, and is sufficiently larger in diameter than the proximal end 33 of applicator 20 for proximal end 33 to friction-fit into section 32. Hollow, tapered cowling or ferrule 17 slides over applicator 20 so that thickened flange 28 seats in annular groove 24 on applicator 20 to hold applicator 20 on body portion 11.

Friction fitted into proximal end 29 of body portion 11 is piston assembly 30. Assembly 30 includes piston 13 that engages the internal sidewalls of body portion 11, washer 14 that has a polygonal periphery to engage a complementary surface on the internal sidewalls of body portion 11, driver screw 15, and rotatable driver screw actuator 12 to drive piston 13 through the inside of body portion 11. Piston 13 propels cosmetic or pharmaceutical material in reservoir 16 toward and through the channel 19 in applicator 20

FIG. 2 shows applicator 20 with its thin, hollow, flat surface 22, and its internal, hollow channel 19 that narrows in diameter from proximal opening to exit port 21. Exit port 21 is connected to, and lies at a right angle to channel 19. Applicator 20 includes an outwardly-tapering body portion 23, an annular groove 24, and inwardly-tapering body portions 25 and 33.

In use, body portion 11 is friction fitted with applicator 20 and ferrule 17 at its distal end 26, body portion reservoir 16 is filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical material, and driver screw assembly 30 is friction fitted into the proximal end 29 of body portion 11. Rotation of actuator 12 moves piston 13 toward the distal end of body portion 11, and propels the material in reservoir 16 into channel 19 to exit from port 21.

Applicator 20 may have a sponge-like covering over surfaces 22 and opening 21. Applicator 20 may be made of a soft, flexible elastomer such as Santoprene, and may be tapered from its proximal to its distal end. In some embodiments, the applicator may be about 0.2 to about 0.3 inch in width, about 0.3 to about 0.4 inch in length and about—in thickness. The exit port may be about 0.04 to about 0.07 inch in diameter in such embodiments.

Although the foregoing description sets forth an embodiment in specific detail, alterations, variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the inventors desire to avail themselves of all such variations, alterations and/or modifications, and the invention should not be limited by the aforesaid specific embodiment. 

1. A cosmetic or pharmaceutical container/dispenser/applicator comprising: a hollow body containing a flowable cosmetic or pharmaceutical material, said body having a material driver inside its proximal end, and a substantially flat surfaced, flexible applicator at its distal end, said applicator having an internal, hollow channel in fluid communication with said material, said channel including, at or near its distal end, an exit port at an angle to said channel.
 2. The cosmetic or pharmaceutical container/dispenser/applicator of claim 1 wherein said angle is about 90°.
 3. The cosmetic or pharmaceutical container/dispenser/applicator of claim 1 wherein said material driver is a driver screw.
 4. The cosmetic or pharmaceutical container/dispenser/applicator of claim 1 wherein said body is cylindrical in shape, and said applicator is friction fitted into the distal end of said hollow body. 